NAADS staff cheat farmers
Jul 20, 2009
Some National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADs) officials connive with suppliers of items purchased under the Prosperity-for-All programme to inflate prices, a study into the programme has revealed.
By Madinah Tebajjukira and Mary Karugaba
Some National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADs) officials connive with suppliers of items purchased under the Prosperity-for-All programme to inflate prices, a study into the programme has revealed.
The Policy Monitoring report, presented yesterday by agriculture state minister Henry Bagiire to MPs, revealed that sub-county NAADS staff also connive with suppliers to supply substandard seeds and equipment.
The meeting was meant to brief MPs on the status of the implementation of the NAADS programmes.
Bagiire cited an incident of a walking tractor in Magada sub-county, Namutumba district, which was sold at sh18m instead of sh3.5m.
He also said 200 one-day-old chicks were sold at sh3m instead of sh400,000.
Bagiire added that farmers in Buwenge and Namalemba sub-counties in Jinja district were given sick broilers and piglets.
He said the ministry was investigating the staff involved in the scam.
“This might lead to the collapse of the programme,†Bagiire lamented.
Bagiire said farmers signed for items they did not receive and in other cases received less.
“Due to inadequate information on the actual cost of the implements, the amount of money to pay back and the modalities of repayment, some farmers are selling the inputs,†Bagiire said.
The report also said farmers were not trained in better management practices, adding that the selection of the six modal farmers per parish was contravened especially in Iganga district.
To solve the problems, the ministers recommended that indicative prices be set for different implements and technologies.
They also said regular sampling and testing of animal and poultry feeds should be done.
According to the study undertaken two months ago, Hoima and Kabarole were the best-performing districts in the implementation of the programme.
Some National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADs) officials connive with suppliers of items purchased under the Prosperity-for-All programme to inflate prices, a study into the programme has revealed.
The Policy Monitoring report, presented yesterday by agriculture state minister Henry Bagiire to MPs, revealed that sub-county NAADS staff also connive with suppliers to supply substandard seeds and equipment.
The meeting was meant to brief MPs on the status of the implementation of the NAADS programmes.
Bagiire cited an incident of a walking tractor in Magada sub-county, Namutumba district, which was sold at sh18m instead of sh3.5m.
He also said 200 one-day-old chicks were sold at sh3m instead of sh400,000.
Bagiire added that farmers in Buwenge and Namalemba sub-counties in Jinja district were given sick broilers and piglets.
He said the ministry was investigating the staff involved in the scam.
“This might lead to the collapse of the programme,†Bagiire lamented.
Bagiire said farmers signed for items they did not receive and in other cases received less.
“Due to inadequate information on the actual cost of the implements, the amount of money to pay back and the modalities of repayment, some farmers are selling the inputs,†Bagiire said.
The report also said farmers were not trained in better management practices, adding that the selection of the six modal farmers per parish was contravened especially in Iganga district.
To solve the problems, the ministers recommended that indicative prices be set for different implements and technologies.
They also said regular sampling and testing of animal and poultry feeds should be done.
According to the study undertaken two months ago, Hoima and Kabarole were the best-performing districts in the implementation of the programme.